Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for inboard pelvis protection

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10 ) helps protect an occupant ( 20 ) of a vehicle ( 12 ) that has an occupant seat ( 22 ) and a center console ( 48 ) positioned adjacent the occupant seat. The apparatus ( 10 ) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( 120 ) inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed condition in which the protection device is inflated and positioned between the occupant ( 20 ) of the vehicle seat ( 22 ) and the center console ( 48 ). An inflation fluid source ( 122 ) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device ( 120 ). In the deployed condition, the protection device ( 120 ) has a first end portion ( 182 a ) positioned adjacent a seat bottom ( 24 ) of the vehicle seat ( 22 ) and an opposite second end portion ( 182 b ) terminating proximate an upper extent of the occupant's pelvis ( 152 ).

1 . An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has an occupant seat and a center console positioned adjacent the occupant seat, the apparatus comprising:
 an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed condition in which the protection device is inflated and positioned between an occupant of the vehicle seat and the center console; and   an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device;   the protection device when in the deployed condition having a first end portion positioned adjacent a seat bottom of the vehicle seat and an opposite second end portion terminating proximate an upper extent of the occupant's pelvis.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protection device has an inflated thickness when in the deployed condition, the inflated thickness of the protection device being greatest adjacent a widest portion of the occupant's pelvis. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protection device has an inflated thickness when in the deployed condition, the inflated thickness of the protection device being greatest adjacent an iliac crest of the occupant's pelvis. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the protection device terminates above an iliac crest of the occupant's pelvis. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protection device when in the deployed condition has a major axis extending vertically in the vehicle and a minor axis extending laterally in the vehicle perpendicular to the major axis, the protection device being configured such that the minor axis is aligned with an iliac crest of the occupant's pelvis when the protection device is in the deployed condition. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus recited in  claim 5 , wherein the protection device has an inflated thickness measured parallel to the minor axis when the protection device is in the deployed condition, the minor axis extending through a portion of the protection device where the inflated thickness is the greatest. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protection device when in the stored condition is located in a seat bottom of the occupant seat. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protection device when in the stored condition is located in the center console. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protection device when in the stored condition is located in a seat back of the occupant seat. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has an occupant seat and a center console positioned adjacent the occupant seat, the apparatus comprising:
 an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed condition in which the protection device is inflated and positioned between a pelvis of an occupant seated on the vehicle seat and the center console; and   an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device;   the protection device comprising a first panel positioned adjacent the center console and a second panel positioned adjacent the occupant when in the deployed condition, the protection device having an inflated thickness measured between the first and second panels when the protection device is in the deployed condition, the inflated thickness being the greatest in a portion of the protection device positioned adjacent an iliac crest of the occupant's pelvis when the protection device is in the deployed condition.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus recited in  claim 10 , wherein the protection device when in the deployed condition has a major axis extending vertically in the vehicle and a minor axis extending perpendicular to the major axis, the inflated thickness of the protection device being measured parallel to the minor axis, the minor axis being aligned with the iliac crest of the occupant's pelvis when the protection device is in the deployed condition. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the minor axis extends through a portion of the protection device where the inflated thickness is greatest. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus recited in  claim 10 , wherein the protection device when in the stored condition is located in a seat bottom of the occupant seat. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 10 , wherein the protection device when in the stored condition is located in the center console. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus recited in  claim 10 , wherein the protection device when in the stored condition is located in a seat back of the occupant seat. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a center console positioned between two vehicle seats, the center console projecting up at least to upper surfaces of seat bottoms of the vehicle seats, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable from a stored condition to a deployed condition in which the at least one protection device is inflated and positioned between an occupant of the vehicle seat and the center console; and   an inflation fluid source for providing inflation fluid for inflating the at least one protection device;   the at least one protection device when in the deployed condition having a first end portion positioned below the upper surfaces of the seat bottoms and an opposite second end portion positioned above the upper surfaces of the seat bottoms.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one protection device comprises:
 a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deployed condition in which the protection device is inflated and positioned between an occupant of the first vehicle seat and the center console; and   a second inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deployed condition in which the protection device is inflated and positioned between an occupant of the second vehicle seat and the center console.